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R. M. FOSTER TENSION DEVICE FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES FOR MAKING March 24, 1925.

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SEAMLESS ELASTIC STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE March 24, 1925. 1,530,992

R. M. FOSTER TENSION DEVICE FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES FOR MAKING SEAMLESS ELASTIC STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE 7 Filed Aug. 3 0, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fwd/{F56 ier By M T-W5 \SM www- March 24, 1925. l 1,530,992

R. M. FOSTER TENSION DEVICE F R CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES FOR MAKIN SEAMLESS ELASTIC STUFKINGS ANT THE LIKE Filed Aug. 30, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 is provided with a central perforation 23 for the needle cylinder 17 and connected parts. In this opening there is a circular plate 24 which is fixed on the gear and is pro vided with a dog 25 projecting up above the table 22. This dog is located circumferentially betweenthe ends of the split circular flange 19 which constitutes or supports the knitting cams. It extends up between the two ends of this member and being positively driven drives these cams and therefore the knitting elements of the machine.

Fixed on this flange 19 at the opposite sides are two parallel brackets 26 which carry a cross bracket 27 on which are sup ported the shafts of two tensionfeeding rollers 28 and 29. These rollers are geared together to rotate positively by gears 30. The roll 28 rests by gravity on the roll 29 below and they feed in the elastic thread E. From what has been said, it will be observed that the whole frame composed of the'parts 26 and 27 must rotate with the rotating knitting cams.

On the bracket 26 is mounted an arm 60 carrying a can 61 having deposited therein the elastic thread E and this is drawn out over a guide 62 to an eye 63 and from that it passes betweenthe rolls 28 and 29 to the knitting cylinder 17. o

On the shaft 31 on which is located the bottom roll 29 is pivoteda bracket 32. This bracket has projecting from it and rigidly secured to it a pair of parallel bars 33 and frame.

34, one'of which is provided'witli a scale- The ends of these bars are connected together by a plate 35 and these four parts constitute a rectangular frame rigidly connected with the pivoted bracket 32.

On this frame is a centralshaft 36 mounted to rotate in bearings at the ends of the This is shown in the form of a square shaft having teeth 37 thereon constituting a ratchet. Slidingly mounted on this shaft is a hub 38 having a square opening for receiving the shaft and therefore rotating positively with the shaft. It is provided with a pawl in the form of a bolt 39 pressed by a spring against the ratchet teeth 37 andhaving a head 40 by which it can be pulled up out of contact with these teeth. It is easy, therefore, to push this hub along the rack in one direction but it cannot be moved backwardly without raising the bolt 39. On this hub there is a friction roller 41 which is mounted to roll around on the surface of the table. The end of the shaft 36 is provided with a bevel gear 42 meshing tension rolls 28 and 29 and controls the speed of delivery of the elastic thread E.

The'parts are so proportioned that they always apply a tension to it and hold it back unlessthe roll 41' is located clear out at the end of the shaft 36 and the amount of drag is governedby the position of the roll along the shaft 36. It will be obvious that when the roll 41 is in its outermost position it will rotate at a maximum speed because the frame on which it is mounted rotates always at the same speed about the center of the knitting machine and the roll 41 has to make more revolutions on its own axis for every revolution of the frame about the center of the knitting machine if it is located at the circumference of the table 22. As it is moved in toward the center it makes fewer'revolutions and consequently rotates the rolls more slowly. Therefore, these rolls will stretch the thread more between the rolls of the knitting machine and cause the resulting stocking to be contracted more when it leaves the needles.

The adjustment is secured manually by the operator by means of a screw 46 mounted in brackets 47 under the table and located radially. This screw has ahandle 48 for operating it located conveniently at the circumference of the table. It also has a nut 49 which has extending up from it a bracket supporting a plate 50 which runs back and forth in a radial slot 51 in the table and constituting a part of the path for the roller'41 at all times. Extending up from the plate 50 isa support 52 carrying a horizontal slide 53 providedwith a slanting tooth 54 on its end. This slide is pressed by a spring 57 so as to cause the tooth .to' engage the end of the hub 38 every time it comes around into contact with it. If the screw 46 has. been turned a slight distance inward since the hub engaged the tooth 54 last, the contact of the hub with the tooth the next time will move the hub inwardly. slightly. If it moves far enough to ratchet the pawl 39 over one of the teeth .37 it will be held against backward motion. A head is provided on the slide 53 to draw it back whenever desired. It can be set by hand at any time but will be automatically adjusted always at the same point in the'rotation of the wheel 41 around the circle. v

In the operation of the device, the operator moves the wheel 41 and hub 38 along the shaft .36 until the wheel registers with the proper division on the scale 34 to produce a cylindrical stocking having the desired diameter. The machine is operated with the parts in'that position as lOIlgas it is desired to produce a product of cylindrical form having a constant diameter. When it is desired to narrow it the operator turns the handle 48 a complete revolution is performed and the next stocking is to be produced, the member is pulled up and the wheelell drawn back to its original position.

In this way the adjustment can be made to any desired degree of fineness and the operator has full control of the shape of the tubular product. There is no necessity of making the product with zones of cylindrical portions separated from each other by sudden decreases in size but, on the contrary, the stocking can be tapered in a regular manner by the laying of each course so that the resulting product is smooth and attractive as well as comfortable to wear. It is understood, of course, that ordinarily these products are made continuous, that is, a tube is formed having alternating enlargements and reductions and each stocking is completed by cutting it from the con tinuous tube at the top and bottom and finishing the edges.

Although I have illustrated and described only asingle form. of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, or to the particular type of knitting machine illustrated, but what I do claim 1s:-

1. The combination with a knitting 1nachine, of a table, a frame connected with said machine and rotatable by it over the table, a roller connected with said frame and resting on the table and adapted to roll around the table as the frame rotates, a shaft with which said roller is rotatable, said shaft having ratchet teeth therealong, means on the roller for co-operating with said ratchetteethto hold the roller'against' 'movement outwardly along the shaft, and

manually adjustable means for .engaging the roller and pushing it inwardly along theshaft while it is rotating around'the table.

2. The combination with a knitting machine, of a table, a frame connected with said machine and rotatable by it over the table, tension rolls carried by said frame, a roller also connected with said frame and resting on the table and adapted'to roll around the table as the frame rotates, a shaft with which said roller is rotatable, said shaft having ratchet teeth therealong, means on the roller for co-operating with said ratchet teeth to hold the roller against movement outwardly along the shaft, means operated by the shaft for rotating the tension rolls, and manually adjustable means for engaging the roller and pushing it inwardly along the shaft while it is rotating around the table.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

RICHARD M. ros'rna. 

